Duloxetine experience: Having taken ten... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

Fibromyalgia Action UK

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Duloxetine experience

Having taken ten weeks to gradually come off Gabapentin - not easy but thank goodness it’s over - I’m into my second week of Duloxetine 30mg with, so far, not too many side effects. I wanted to ask those who have more experience of this if they drink alcohol with it. My prescription label states ‘no alcohol’ but the NHS website says to avoid for first few days to see how you react. I’m not a big drinker but do enjoy a small glass of wine with food over the weekend.

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BonnieMagic

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7 Replies

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22buteo222 days ago

My friend has just started taking Gabapentin and I’m wondering why you’ve stopped taking it? Did you suffer bad side effects? Were you on a very high dose of the drug?

I do hope you get on well with Duloxetin in the future.

I also have Fibro.

BonnieMagic• in reply to22buteo222 days ago

I stopped taking it on the advice of a chronic fatigue/ME specialist. In hindsight it wasn’t really helping my fibromyalgia symptoms. I was taking 900mg a day so not that high a dose. Side effects from coming off it were pretty horrible.

NWG232 days ago

Please please please STOP now!!!!! This drug is far far worse to get off than ANY other. You can safely stop within 2 weeks of starting it but after that you will end up like me and the 44,000 of us on the support forum Im a member of who are trying to get off it. Join Cymbalta hurts worse immediately. They have lots of advise and will help you step by step to get off it. They work with Doctors who specialise in getting off antidepressants and psycho drugs like this one. Im 3.5 years into my slow taper and have years to go due to the side effects. Thank goodness you asked. Urgently look up this forum on google and join it.

Hazel_AngelstarAdministratorFMA UK Staff• in reply toNWG232 days ago

Please do not advise anyone to stop medication without guidance from their health professional.

While some people may have issues with a drug, many others benefit from it.

NWG23• in reply toHazel_Angelstar2 days ago

Actually if you knew the dangers of Duloxotine you would understand how dangerous NOT stopping this week is in relation to this lady waiting until next week to stop! I am speaking from personal experience and am worried for this person. I am only trying to save her YEARS of tapering. This drug only works for months then they increase the dose perhaps up to 60, 90 then120mgs. It again stops working and you are then left with dreadful side effects and no benefit.

The tapering journey takes YEARS! and the side effects can be carefully managed by tapering slowly as instructed on the Cymbalta hurts worse forum giving the brain time to heal.

Unfortunately Doctors do not understand how to get people off this drugalthough some are now becoming more aware due to costly attempts at law suits against the pharmaceutical company Lily that produce it. Infact tge name Cymbalta has been recently discontinued by them in place of generic names like Duloxotine such is the anger against the company.

I am a trained nurse and would not tell someone to stop medication lightly.

desquinnPartnerVolunteerFMAUK Trustee• in reply toNWG232 days ago

As a trained nurse I am sure you would understand that your failing in your duty of care to give medical advice without being in front of the patient and them being under your care.

You mention 44 thousand people on a forum whereas the last time I looked there were about 15 million people using the drug. The forum also takes an anti doctor / pro supplement route. I am not promoting the drugs use but wide sweeping statements that do not reflect the benefits and risks for the individual patient are unsafe.

Irrespective of your opinion (or mines) your behaviour on this post is against the sites rules and as a medical professional you have additional responsibility no only from your profession but from the sites rules.

I am turning off replies to this post now due to your behaviour.

dogear12 days ago

I have been on duloxetine for 4 years now. I was able to drink a glass until this year. Now it leaves me exhausted, but then I'm 80 so it's understandable. It isn't nearly as exhausting as gabopentin.